Name: Trust, Truth & Surprising Science
Start: 2026-05-19T19:00:00
End: 2026-05-19T21:30:00
Location: The Star (Backroom)

Enjoy a playful peek into the myths and mysteries of “secret” university research with Dr David Birch, then dive into why we trust Google over doctors, fall for health myths, or swear by superfoods. Together, these talks explore how secrecy and psychology shape what we believe.
Plus, a quiz with prizes!

Secret Projects at the University of Surrey

Dr David M. Birch (Associate Professor in Aerospace Engineering)

There are a number of rumours, misconceptions and mysteries surrounding the confidential aerospace research going on at the University of Surrey. These projects normally sit behind locked doors, protected by draconian NDAs, confidentiality agreements and the Official Secrets Act.

In this presentation, Dr David Birch promises he won't discuss any of them!

From Kale to Confusion: Why Health Myths Stick and Medicine Sometimes Doesn't

Dr Sarah-Jane Stewart (Lecturer in Health Psychology)

Why do so many of us trust Google more than our doctor? Why do some people avoid medicines that could genuinely help them? And how on earth did kale end up as the hero of every health headline?

In this talk, we’ll explore the wonderfully quirky ways we make sense of health information, from media hype to myth‑making and everything in between. Discover how our brains filter advice, why conflicting claims can be so persuasive, and how psychology shapes the choices we make about our wellbeing. Join us for a fun, eye‑opening journey into why we believe what we believe about health.

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Secret Projects at the University of Surrey

From Kale to Confusion: Why Health Myths Stick and Medicine Sometimes Doesn't

Other The Star (Backroom) events

From Dog Walks to Data Trails

The Visible Sky and the Invisible Web: Our Evolvin…